Convertible vehicle body



Nv. s, 1927.

F. N. VANIER CONVERTIBLE VEHICLE BOIDY Filed Deo. 12, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l f zzz/Ah? Patented Nov. 8, 1927. f

lI JNITau STATES '1,648,205 PATENT OFFICE.;

FRANCIS N. VANIER, vOE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

convnnrrnm: vEHroLnJBoDY.

Application lcd December 12, 1924. Serial No. 755,454.

' This inventiony relates toy a vehicle body of the general character described 1n my prior Patent No. 1,441,888,Adated January 9,

1923. 5 The chief object of the inventionis to improve the 'vehicle body disclosed in the before mentioned patent and in addition vproy posed betweenv the seat and 'thecombination' back and tailgate, all of the foregoing broad features of thel invention being' dis-A closed in the before mentioned patent.

An additional feature to the foregoing consistsin the provision of an Vauxiliary seat adjustable or tiltable into a non-'interfering position simultaneously with the tilting of i the rear seat into'inoperative position.

Another feature of the'invention. consists in the addition of acanopy framework which is carried in collapsed relation between the back and the,V seat when the foregoingare normally positioned, but which can be moved .into canop'y'supporting position if and when desired when the combination back and tailgate' is in the tail-.gate.formingrposition or maybe'detached completely.

A further feature of the .invention consists in the positioning of ay storage com- 40v partment beneath the floor ofthe vehicle land providingaccess thereto from without by lowering the tail-gate and passing beneath the seat'or 'from within the vehicle by tilting 'the seat into"inoperativeposition;

Another feature ofthe invention consists in the mountingv o-f a rear seat on the tailgate. f

l The 'full nature of the invention will be f understood from the accompanying drawings and .the -following description'v and l claimsz' y In the drawings Fig. 1V is a centra'l'sectional View of the rear end of a vehiclebody equipped with the invention,` the full' lines indicating thenormal position vof the several parts and lthe dotted vlines, indicatingfanrest 25.'V

and shownV infsectionV to show still other parts in detail. Fig. 2 is a view similar tov vother and desired vposition vof someof theV 7 lsame parts, otherparts being broken away Fig. 1 but illustrates the parts in what may be termed the bedy or truck forming posi# tion., Fig. 3 is a similar viewof'a'portion of the parts 'in'Figs-l and 2, and ofa canopy framework attachment to the foregoing and the preferred form vof-A the invention and' in the two positions. Figf is a topplan view 5 is a side elevational view thereof. Fig. 6 is a side Velevational viewl of the lock associated with the pivotalpsupport ofthe canopy framework showing'the parts vinnen-locking same parts-showing the parts yin the` pivot locking position.` Fig. 8 is atransverse sec-` tional view taken on line 8+8 of Figl? and i of the hinged support for the tail-gate. Fig.

`position. [.Fig. 7 is a similar viewA of them in the directionY of the arrows.r Fig; 9 isau one feature of the invention 'indicated gen# erallyl in'Figs. 1 and 2.` vFig.`10 isa view similar to Fig. 9 of the tire receiving compartment showing a method of removingvtlie r tire'therefroru v i In' the drawings there isillustrateda vehicle framework of any suitablecharacter and 'central sectionalview'ofa modified formlof j, .the invention and also illust-rates in detail herein indicated bythe numeral l0, which supports the usualefront 'seat4 A11 andthe back 12. .Adjacent thefront seat 11 and upon' pivots at each side of the body 10,'whi'ch pivotsare indicated by` thel numeral"13,are

the combination lever bracketsl 14whichsup'- i lportV an auxiliary seat 15.A The lever bracket Mis pivot'ally connected at' 16 toa link k17, "which link V17 Vis pivotally. connected" at 18 toanother pivotally supportedbracket 19, pivotally supported at 20" upon the same framework or body 10.V The two brackets 19 supporta rear seat construction 21,1which at each side'and at thevupper rear edgev includes a catch 22. Pivotallynsupportedl at; 23` adjacent each side4 the bodyj1O,'is-fa bracket 24, whichsupports ahead andv back y The back rest 25, as vherein disclosed, has an extension of the bracket 24,

which includes a pinA 26` which `lies,` behind if '9 the catch 22,; whereby fthe seat25'is normally maintained by said catcli22fin the seat form'- ing position. v terp'osed kbetween the' backrest 25 and the A tension spring 27 is VYin- 'i Vback' l2andnormallytends tomove ,andl

maintain the back rest.y 25 in the position l fio -spring 27.

shown in Fig. 2. l At each side, the body also includes a suitable bracketV 28 with a lateral portion 29 that supports the seat'21 when in seat forming position. l A suitable link 30 is connected to the lever 19 and the link 17 at the pivot 18, and is adapted toactuate the levers 19 and 111 for moving simultaneously the seats y and 21 into the posit-ion shown in Fig. 2. Movement of the seat- 21V from the position shown :in A.Fig..f1 to the position shown' in Fig.v2 as aforesaid, permits back rest- 25 to be moved into position shown inV Fig. 2, by means of the The back 12 includes a panel oifback portion 31', Which is pivotally supported near its lower edge at 32' by the"k body 10 and'at each side ici said rear panel.` The upperfend of.

the panel, andA herein :at 33, is connected to one end of a hinged link 321 that is hingedly connected at 35, to, another link 36, hingedly supported at 37 upon the body 10..V As shown vClearly in' Figs. 1', 2,A Li and 5, one of Athe links, vherein 311, isshown provideduf'ith a slot 38 adapted to receive a tongue v39 `car-- ried by they other link, and herein the link 36;A The liiikincludingthe slot 35 includes atransveise'and communicating aperture 40 4and the tongue includes a registering` Laper-V ture 41. The link 34C carries a pin l12Whieh is rsea-table in the registering aperturesA() and' Lil", and serves to lock the tongue in the slot, and thereby lock the tivo linkstogether vinY the extended` or suspended position.

suitable retainer 43 inl the form of a..V chain or the like is adapted to permanently secure ,v pin 42 to the linkage so thatit Will always be available for use.V As .sliown'clearly by the `full'lines in Fig. 1,*linkage 34: and 36 .can be ycollapsed :into collapsed position, and

ivhen so 'collapsed the' rear pcitionor panel 31Will be in the back forming position.

lVhen the linkage is extended` as .shown by the dotted'line `in Fig. 1f and the ifull line andY the like.

in Fig. ,3, the same is in the tail-gatev supporting and maintaining position. v

'It Will be readily apparent that When the seat 21is in the normal or seat forming: position and the tail-gate 31 is in theloivered position shown clearly ir'rFrig. 2,.,'said`tailgate is adapted tosupport luggageoiother paraphernalia suchl as camping equipment If desired, the tailgate may be maintained in the closed. position yas shown by thefull line in 'Fig'. 1, Whilethe seat may be maintained in Athe. inoperative position as shown in Fig. 2. Whensofpositioned thea'foresaid partsV With thersides of tlie'fr'ame or vehicle body 10 form a :conn partnientadapted to receive luggage'or the like. lVhen the parts are positioned 'as shovvnin Fig.' 2,.an elongated bed,v is pro# vided including the' base or bottom of the vehicle Vand ythe tail-gate 31. HThis position of the parts corresponds to the 'bed forming positiony and thus the Vehicle may be used for sleeping purposes. The means for securing the aforesaid selective positioning as o desired, consists yof the adjustable linkage shown in section in Figs. 1 and 2. The adjustable linkage includes a housing 50 formed as herein shown integral with and upon a' nonlpivoted end of the link 30. The housing 50 includes a longitudinal slot or channel 51 therein adapted to receive a tongue 52- of a llink 53 pivotally connected at 511 toV abracket 55 secured to the tail-gate 31v near the pivotal support thereof.

channel 56 .which is adapted to slidablysupport a U shaped *locking member 57, the inner i'aceoil which carries a pair of locking y r The housing V5() in kaddition to the longitudinal slot includes a pins 58 and the opposite face of Which cary the lchamber 56 is suitably' secured Ato the housing 50 as by the bolts 61 and includes a recess 62 adapted to receive'a coil spring ries aprojection 59. A Ycover plate 60 for The coil spring is not onlyreceivable by thcvrecess but is concentric With the proje'ction l 59, said projection serving as a springfi'etainer. It will be readily apparent `that the U-shaped slidable locking member is normally inaintainable in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a lspring 63.v Pivotally supported upon an ear 61' carried by the vhousing'Y and at 651s a cam 66, liavingfa handle portion ,67, which cani yportion 66is positionable vin. a slot- `68 that communicates y with chaniber`56. '1t 'will be apparent that as' shown from the position oi the parts in tain the Ushaped retainer 57 in the lovver- Y. l y y 10o' l Fig. 2 that. the cani 66 is adapted to mainl niost position in chamber 56A in opposition toV if spring 63. Herein the tongue or extension the link 53 is shown provided .With a pair jofslots 69,ivhich are adaptedy to register with the projections 58 or locking pins andV A thus lock the link 53 to the linki'3O for simultaneous'movement The' foregoing i arrangement Ais utilized whenV it is desired to secure the parts in the bed forming posivtion, assho'wn. clearly inFig. 2.

-lVheiiever it is vdesired -to carry luggage* or other paraphernalia upon the tail-gate when' the 'tail-gate is in the loiifeiniost posi tion orwhenever it is desired to utilize the.

vehiclel body herein disclosed for sleeping purposes and thev like, ori-Whenever it is desired vto have the parts `in the bedV forming po'siti'o'nedv behind the back forming' portion l tail-gate 31.

25 of the rear seatand which does not interfere with the collapsibility and positioning of the supporting linkage 34 and 36. It will be understood thatthe canopy framework is `herein disclosed as positioned within the two parallel positioned collapsible linkages 311 and 36 found at each side of the Herein the canopy framework comprises a link 71 which' is pivotally supported upon the transverse support or pivot 7 0 byv a construction shown in detail in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive and which will be herein- 'the tail-gate si.

v v be supported in an intermediate position by 76 upon the member V71 and a link 77 is Y broken and the linkage 75 and' 77 is drawn a similar construction including additional parts 71 and 73. For an understanding of the present invention, however, a plan `view of the framework is believed unnecessary for intermediate construction may be Varied to suit the convenience and desires ofowner of the vehicle.

To secure the hinged parts 71 and 73 in the desired vor canopy forming position, a link 7 5 is pivotally supported at pivotally supported at 78 upon the member 73, andv said links 75 and 77 arepivotally connected at 79, so that the parts 71 and 73 will be maintained in the full line position shown in Fig. 3 when the linkage 75 and 77 is positioned in aligned relation. type of hinged joint is quite common in folding rules, and therefore no further or detailed description thereof is believed necessary. Vhen it is desired to collapse the canopy framework and fold the same into a position where it will not mar the appearance of the vehicle, the joint 79 is inwardly toward the back. At the same time the member 73 is elevated slightly if necessary by tilting upon pivotor hinge 72 to release the locking end 74 from t-he tailgate. Thereafter the part 73 is tilted inwardly and toward the member 71, the member 71 also is tilted upon the transverse support until t-he parts are positioned as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Thereafter the tail-gate 31 may be elevated into back forming position or may be leftin the lowermost position land thereupon receive a trunk or other paraphernalia, whichit is not desired to cover.

The particular detachable and lockable connection between the link 71 and the transverse support .70 is shown clearly in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive. Herein the link 71 is shown provided with an elongated Slot 8O The link 71 isv Thisl adjacent the open pivotal supportf81 adapted to engage the transverse portion 70. As herein disclosed the link 71 is provided with a cut-out portion 82. A U-shaped-.crosssectioned member (see Fig. 8. 83 having an extension 841 is positioned. a jacent the before mentioned slottedportionpof llink 71 i andthe end 84 is turned vinwardly through the slot or cut-out portion 82 so as to seat in the slot 80, and thus slidably support the member or catch 83'upon'the link 71. Thev end of-the member 83 `is so formed as to` complete the pivotal 'support of the openvpivotalsupportf81. ;This is shown clearly 7, the link 71 is locked to the transverse support 70- and pivotally supported thereon'. `The means for-locking the slidable catch in the retaining or lockingfposition consists of a pin85carried by the link 71,

and a dog 86 having a locking tooth 87 for engagement with the opposite end of the .slidable catch S3, which dog is pivotally supported lat 88- on the link. 71. Said locking dog'86 includes'a slot 89 which receivespin 85 and this pin limits and determines thel movement of the locking dog.y A handle, .90 may be provided if desired and consists vof a pin carried by the locking dog 86.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2, 9 and 10,

the framework 10 includes 4a compartment 110, which includes a part ofthe floor 111 of said body 10 and the same hingedly support-s at 112 acover or floor 113. A tire 114;.

is receivable by this compartment and may beremoved therefrom by lowering tail-gate 31 and elevating the coverr 113 as shown by the dotted lines inFig.v 10 until the top ofl the cover engages the bottom of the seat 21 sition. The tire 114:'.can thus be removed when the seat- 21 is inthe seat forming poll()V rearwardly without disturbing the occupants of the rear compartment of the vehicle.

When, however, the back' of the `vehicle is l' loaded and it is inconvenient-to remove the load from the tail-gate 31 to secure access to the tire from the rear of the vehicle, the

vseat 21 is tilted forwardly as shown clearly in Fig. 2, and the tire is removed upwardly and rearwardly from the rear compartment ofthe vehicle.

` Reference will. now be had to Fig. 9 and in this figure there is illustrateda modified form of theinvention which includes a variof an additionall or auxiliary seat. The tailend lby said brackets and at the opposite ends at124 and 125 to a seat 126. The seat i nested at 130 to a bracketI 131 upon the bot- 126 is L-shaped and includes a back porti-on 127 liingedly connectedtliereto at 128 by a *folding rule joint or equivalent construe-l tion, so that the portion 127 may be coltoni of the rear compartment 111 or in similar position. Thus the essential construction of the rear seat isa parallelogram arrangement maintained in the seat forming position by the linkage 129 and collapsible upon 1 the tilting of the tail-gate 31'iiito position adjacent said tail-gate as shown clearly by the dotted lines in Fig, 9. As shown clearly l i by the dotted lnes insaid ligure, the auXil# iary seat construction is positionable within the space formed by the rear seat 21 and the tail-gate 31.

The invention claimed is: 1. In a vehicle body the combination 'of a Hoor, a pivotally supported seat, a tail-gate pivotally supported adjacent the seat, a coin- Y partment positioned beneath the Hoor Vand extending forwardly of saidseat and tailgate respectively, said seat, tail-gate and compartment being so arranged that access to the compartment may be had when the tail-gate is lowered and beneath said seat or when the tail-gate is raised and the seat is tilted, an intermediate compartment formed by and between saidv tail-gate and said seat, and a collapsiblecompartment forming framework normally positionable insaid interinediate compartment and movable rearwardlyiiito extended relation and supportable by said tail-gate when in the lowered position to form anothercompartment. v

2. In. a vehicle body-theroombinationof a Vehicle framework, a tail-gate pivotally supported on its lower forward edge by the framework and movableV rearwardly and downwardly" from upright position into extended position, and a collapsible framework pivotally supported upon an axis parallel to theV tail-gate axis and movable rearwardly and upwardly, the free ends of the tailgate and `collapsible framework lying immediately adjacent the pivoted ends of the co1. lap-'ible framework and tail-gate res} eo-v tively when in kforward position, and the free ends of the tail-gate and Vcollapsible framework being` connected together when in rearward and extended posit-ion to forni a compartment upon the rear of thevehicle framework.

In witness whereof, I have-hereunto afixed'my signature.

FRANCIS N. VANIER. 

